CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary Shelia (right) of Shelia’s Jewelry and Gifts of Hughesville, presents a $400 check to Ken Frey of the Son Light House in Muncy. A second check of $400 was received by Lauren Edkin, director of the Sullivan County Victims Services at LaPorte.

HUGHESVILLE The familiar saying that “Charity begins at home,” was recently extended to “Charity begins in your home-town.”

At Shelia’s Jewelry and Gift Shop in Hughesville, two local organizations benefited from the sale of three faux coins fashioned into necklaces. The fake silver dollars from the 1880’s was donated to a local jeweler earlier this spring after a metal detector located them beneath a renovation site.

Arriving at Shelia’s Shop on Dec. 9, each selected charity received a check in the amount of $400. The donations represent one hundred percent from the swift sales of the necklaces.

Ken Frey arrived from the Son Light House in Muncy, and from LaPorte, Lauren Edkin represented the Sullivan County Victim Services (SCVS).

Director Edkin said, “This generous gift will go directly for services and to promote outreach programs to spread the word.” The center aids victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

During the past fiscal year, Edkin shared that the center had served 71 clients. In addition, their educational programs were taken to 1,757 individuals. Edkin stressed that “Help is free and confidential.”

Ken Frey, with The Son Light House since 1997 said, “We serve an average of 450 families each month.” Good news shared from the organization was, “This is the first Christmas we’ve had enough to go around,” referring to food, clothing and gift reserves. On December 8, just the day before receiving this donation, the center had distributed to 304 families.

The Son Light House serves families in need who reside in the eastern part of Lycoming County, from Montoursville to the county lines.

For the local jeweler, helping those who help others has become a Christmas tradition. “Following the example of the Savior who was given to us all, we have a directive to give to one another,” Shelia Barto said.